Control mechanism for self-playing musical instruments.



R. A. LEADBETBR.

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1912.

1,111,799. Patented Sept.29,1914.-

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R. A. LEADBETER.

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1912.

1,1 1 1,799. Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

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uni-TED STATES PATENT onnion.

RICHARD A. LEADBETER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE FABRANDC1DIVIJPAITY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

CONTROL MECHANISM FUR SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, RICHARD A. LEAD1 sicalinstruments ofthe type adapted for either automatic or manual.operation, and more particularly to manually and automatically operablepianos.

Instruments of this type are provided with various control devices, suchas the tempo, the winding and rewinding control, tracker shiftingmechanism for registering the tracker with the music and for transposingthe key, pedal control, etc. These cont-rollers are most convenientlyarranged at the front of the key bed, but inasmuch as a number of thedevices controlled are arranged above the key bed, operating connectionsmust be arranged therebetween. This is diflicult because the greaterportion of the key bed is covered by the keys, and to pass connectionsbetween the keys necessitates the cutting away of the latter to anextent that is objectionable.

With the present invention the controllers are arranged at the front ofthe key bed and are connected with the respective devices to becontrolled by a novel construction and arrangement of intermediatemechanism. Furthermore this mechanism passes from below to above the keybed without interference or requiring modification in the constructionof the keys or any other part of the manually operable or automaticaction. Still further, the construction is such that the automaticaction may be readily attached or detached without disassembling thecontroller mechanism.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan of the key bed showing thearrangement of the various control devices thereon. Fig. 2 is sectionalview of a portion of the bed. Fig. 3 is a cross section. Fig. 4c is aperspectiveview of the detachable coupler for connecting the mechanismon the fixed and removableportions of the instrument.

In the construction of pianos and other Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 16, 1912.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Serial No. 709,688.

key actuated musical instruments of the same general type, it is usualto provide a key bed, which forms a rigid support for the keys. There isalso a key frame on which the keys are directly fulcruined, and whichisarranged on top of the key bed. The key bed is formed of comparativelyheavy longitudinal and cross bars, while the key frame is formed of thinstock, and receives its strength from the bed on which it is supported.As shown, A is the key bed provided with parallel longitudinal bars Aand A connected by cross bars A. B is the key frame which is likewiseprovided with longitudinal bars 13 and B in front and rear, withintermediate, longitudinally extending fulcrum bar B The latter isusually arranged to extend over the spaces between the bars A and A ofthe bed, but is supported upon the cross bars A My improved constructionof control mechanism comprises a plurality of levers which are supportedand fulcrumed .upon the keybed below the key frame, which latter issuitably cut away to provide clearance for movement of the levers. Asshown, three levers G C and C are thus fulcrumed and arranged, there-roll lever being fulcrumed at D to the rear bar of the key bed, andpassing through a slot E in the fulcrum bar B of the key frame. Thelevers O and C are fulcrumed upon the forward bar of the key bed andterminate in front of the fulcrum bar B To connect these levers with themechanism controlled thereby and without interference with any otherpart, I employ transversely extending rock shafts F,

E and E which are arranged in the space between the forward and rearbars of the key bed. Each of these rock shafts is provided with anupwardly extending rock arm F and a downwardly extending rock arm G, theformer being connected by longitudinally extending rods H, which arearranged in front of the fulcrum bar B with their respective levers C Cand C The downwardly extending rock arms are connected with rods 1,which pass beneath the key bed and extend to one side of the instrument.For extending these operating connections to the devices abovethe keybed, vertically extending rock shafts J J are arranged in closeproximity to the side of the instrument case, extending upward throughthe key bed at a point where they will clear the other devices and beingjournaled in suitable bearings such as the brackets K. These verticalrock shafts are connected by rock arms L at their lower ends with therods I, while at their upper ends they are provided with rock arms M.

N are rods connected to the devices to be controlled, such as theshiftable, music-holding frame 0 and re-wind lever P, both of which arelocated upon the top of the pneumatic action Q. The rods N are coupledto the rock arms M by a quickly detachable connection, such as thehooked ends R, which pass through eyes in the rock arms, and. the

spring loops S for engaging said hooks and preventing accidentaldisengagement. Thus whenever it is desired to remove the pneumatieaction it is only necessary to uncouple the hooks R, after which theaction may be removed without interference with the control mechanism. 7

The construction as described is one which is inexpensive tomanufacture, is convenient for manipulation, and requires no change in'the construction of either the manually operable or automatic action.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A controlling mechanism for self-playing musical instruments whichincludes a key bed, a key frame positioned above the bed and keyscomprising levers pivotally mounted upon the key bed below the key frameand movable in the plane of the bed,

. said bed including longitudinal bars, a plurality of bell crank leverssupported by said bars, rods connecting the first mentioned levers withthe bell crank levers, a plurality of vertically extending bell cranklevers havlevers Will operate the bell crank levers to actuate themechanism to be controlled 2. A controlling mechanism for self-playingmusical instruments which-includes a. key bed and a key frame mountedthereon, a seriesof levers extending transversely of the bed andpivotally connected thereto,

said levers being movable between the frame and bed, said bed includinglongitudinal bars, rods connected to said levers and extending parallelwith said bars, a plurality of shafts supported between the bars andextending transversely of the bed, bell cranks mounted on said shafts,rods connecting said levers with said bell cranks, said levers havi'ngportions which extend below the bed, means having an operativeconnection with the mechanism to be controlled, and an operativeconnection between the portions of said bell cranks which extend belowthe bed and said means whereby actuation of the levers will operate themechanism to be controlled.

3. A controlling mechanism for self-playing musical instruments whichincludes a key bed, a key frame arranged above the bed, a plurality oflevers pivotally supported on the bed and operating between the bed andframe, rock shafts supported by the frame and having an operativeconnection with said levers,,a plurality of vertically extending rockshafts having an operative connection with the first mentioned rockshafts, said rock shafts at their upper terminals having erank arms androds engaging said crank arms and having an operative engagement withthe mechanism to be controlled.

. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature I I in presence of twowitnesses. ing an operativeconnection with the mecha- I nism to becontrolled and connections between the first mentioned bell crankleversand the second mentioned b'ell crank levers whereby actuation ofthe first mentioned RICHARD A. LEADBETER.

lVitnesses:

JAMES BARRY, DELBERT COLLINS.

Copies or this patent m be' obtained for ave cents each, s; addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I); C.

